WHAT HAPPENED: Reilly Opelka plays big bang tennis.
A giant of a tennis player at 6-foot-11, the top-ranked American man hammered his huge serve and heavy forehands to overpower Nikoloz Basilashvili, 7-6, 6-3, 6-4 under the Grandstand lights to reach the US Open fourth round on Saturday.
Blasting first serves in the 130 mph range and faster, 21 thunderbolt aces, and 11 blistering groundstroke winners, the No. 22 seed stormed into his first major Round-of-16 berth in impressive fashion.
The 24-year-old Floridian is one of three American men to reach the fourth round, the most since 2011 in Flushing Meadows. He has yet to lose a set this week.
Opelka was not untouchable on his service games. The Georgian, No. 39 in the world, managed to neutralize the big man’s power to break him early in each of the first two sets. But when really needed, the American reached back for a little extra on his cannon serve to get out of trouble.
Opelka also smartly mixed in winning trips to the net on key points to keep Basiliashvilli on the defensive through the two-hour-and-15-minute match. Showcasing quick hands and some deft volleying touch, he won 19 of 26 points at the net.
WHAT IT MEANS: After glimpses of his potential with ATP Tour wins in New York in 2019 and Delray Beach in 2020, Opelka has solidified his stature as a top-tier player this season.
He started the year by reaching the Australian Open second round, reached the Italian Open semifinals, and French Open third round. Last month he made the Toronto final.
MATCH POINT: Opelka next faces South African Lloyd Harris, who upset No. 6 Denis Shapovalov on Saturday night. Can the big man continue to win with his big bang tennis for a spot in the quarterfinals?
